Chapter 93 Qingdeng: 'Please take back what you just said!' [5800 words]
Sanako stood under a white plum tree not far from Qingden.
I saw that Sanako at this time was no longer the ladylike dress she wore in a goose-yellow kimono and a Shimada bun when Qingto first met her.
Today, she looks very much like a daughter of a samurai family - her upper body is wearing a white kendo robe with straight front and middle sleeves, and her lower body is a black kendo skirt with an ankle-length hem. Her feet in plain white stockings are wearing blue socks.
She wears a pair of flat wooden clogs with a blue handle and a blue sheath on her left waist. Her dark hair is tied behind her head with a blue ribbon into a neat high ponytail that reaches her waist.
Perhaps it was because of the change in hairstyle and clothes, Sanako's temperament changed as a result, and there was a sharp heroic spirit between her eyebrows.
This heroic spirit added a different kind of charm to her.
The beauty in kendo uniform, who has both the heroic spirit of a man and the softness of a woman, stands under the colorful white plum trees with fallen flowers - this should be a harmonious scenery like a picture scroll.
However, the harmonious atmosphere of this beautiful scenery was broken by the five samurai surrounding Sanako.
These five samurai were all young, and their clothes were quite neat and decent. They formed a fan-shaped "formation" and half-surrounded Sanako, who was now frowning slightly.
Tourists who were admiring the plum blossoms gathered around to join in the fun after hearing the noise coming from Sanako's side.
Of course...only a few people actually came to join in the fun, and the vast majority came to see Sanako.
Many people heard the noise and turned their heads following the sound. When they saw Sanako's appearance, their eyes immediately lit up and they happily ran over under the banner of "joining in the fun" to "appreciate" Sanako's beauty and appearance.
figure.
The kendo uniform Sanako is wearing now shows off her figure much better than those women's kimonos.
Kendo skirts are usually pulled up to the waist and then tightened around the waist, which not only shows off the waist, but also greatly highlights the presence of the bear.
Against the backdrop of the kendo uniform, Sanako's superb figure is perfectly displayed.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Okita, who was standing next to Qingden, looked around with a confused expression, "What happened?"
Okita had been concentrating on admiring the plum blossom petals flying in the air, so he didn't notice the shouting just now. It was only now that he noticed the commotion around the crowd that he realized that something seemed to have happened.
"Okita-kun." Qingto said in a deep voice, "I saw Miss Sanako. She seems to be being pestered by someone."
"What?" Okita was startled, then hurriedly stood on tiptoes and followed Qingto's line of sight, "Where is it? Where is Miss Sanako?"
Although Okita had already tiptoed to the limit, his height perfectly blended into the flow of people around him. No matter how he tiptoed or stretched his neck, his field of vision was still obscured by the dense crowds and trees around him.
There was no sign of Sanako.
"Miss Sanako is over there." Qingto held the sword on his waist, "Okita-kun... let's go over and take a look."
Although he had no idea what was going on, who the five samurai who surrounded Sanako were, and why they were bothering Sanako, Qingto subconsciously felt that these five people should come.
Those who are not good.
Because he heard clearly just now - someone among the five people shouted to Sanako, "Why don't you little Chiba Kenkan take up your responsibilities?"
The shouts with such content... made Qingto think that these five people were most likely to come here to cause trouble for Sanako, the "Miss Chiba Sword Hall".
Sanako is their friend from the Imperial Guard Hall and has a very good friendship with Kondo and Okita. Based on this relationship, it is difficult for Ayoto to ignore Sanako, who seems to be entangled by unknown people.
As for Okita, who has a very good relationship with Sanako, it is even more impossible for him to ignore his friend who seems to be in trouble.
Okita nodded vigorously, said "Okay", and then followed Qingto to push away the crowd and move towards the direction of Sanako.
Just when Aoto led Okita and Saito to squeeze through the crowd in front of him, he suddenly heard - Sanako was facing the five samurai who gathered in front of him... to be precise, facing the station.
A handsome young man at the center of the five warriors shouted in an impatient tone:
"Fourth cousin, I have just finished what I need to say. Please get out of my way."
"Sanako." The handsome young man put his hands on his hips and ignored Sanako's request to let them leave. Instead, he said to Sanako in a stern tone, "Your words are finished, but mine are not.
Finished."
After listening to the conversation between Sanako and the handsome young man, Aoto and Okita both looked surprised.
"This voice..." Okita was surprised by the handsome young man's voice.
"Fourth cousin...?" Qingden was surprised by what Sanako called the handsome young man.
At this time, they heard the handsome young man shout to Sanako in a voice that was several degrees higher:
"Does your little Chiba Sword Hall have too much time? What can't you do if you have so much time? Play boring games here with a third-rate sword hall like the Shiwei Hall?"
A third-rate sword hall like the Test Guard Hall... After these words came into his ears, Qingdeng's brows suddenly furrowed.
Okita's expression changed slightly.
The unsmiling Saito also raised his gaze at this handsome young man.
Also changing the expression on his face was Sanako.
Sanako's eyebrows knitted together, and hints of anger appeared on his face.
Suddenly, an exclamation came from not far away:
"Hey, isn't this Brother Duomen? Why are you here?"
Chiba Jutaro, who was holding a piece of grilled squid that he probably bought from a nearby stall in each hand, cast a surprised look at the handsome young man while trying his best to squeeze through the "human wall" blocking him.
The "human wall" in front of Chiba Jutaro was very thin, so he quickly penetrated all the "obstacles" and came to Sanako's side.
"Brother Chong." The handsome young man said in a deep voice, "I'm here specifically to persuade you."
"Persuade us?" Chiba Jutaro's brows twitched.
"It's a complete waste of time to play boring 'joint battle games' with a third-rate sword hall like the Shiwei Hall, which has a small number of apprentices and generally poor swordsmanship among its apprentices."
"Please, your little Qianba Sword Hall, take up the responsibility of 'cultivating disciples' as a big sword hall, and use your precious time on cultivating disciples or other serious matters, and don't waste your precious time on playing games.
!”
"Tsk..." Chiba Jutaro's expression suddenly became the same as Sanako's - a look of displeasure appeared on Chiba Jutaro's face at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Chiba Jutaro opened his mouth and was about to say something to the handsome young man——
"Mr. Jutaro, Miss Sanako." Qingnobu finally succeeded in leading Okita and Saito, pushing aside the layers of people and squeezing out of the thick crowd.
Chiba Jutaro: "Tachibana-kun? Souji-kun?"
The brother and sister, who were standing side by side, cast surprised and stunned glances at Qingdeng and his group who suddenly appeared.
There was also the handsome young man who cast a stunned look at Qing Deng and others who suddenly appeared.
He first focused his attention on the stranger Qingdeng with a puzzled look on his face.
But after discovering Okita standing next to Qingto, his expression changed instantly, and he immediately focused all his eyes and attention on Okita.
"Okita-kun...?" The handsome young man raised his eyebrows and whispered Okita's name softly at a volume that only he could hear clearly.
Under the gaze of everyone with different emotions, Qingto slowly walked to the side of Chiba Jutaro and Sanako.
As soon as he stood beside the two brothers and sisters, Qingdeng immediately asked them bluntly:
"Mr. Shigetaro, Miss Sanako, who is this?"
Qingden, whose brows were still furrowed, raised his hand to gesture to the handsome young man.
"Uh..." Chiba Jutaro raised his hand and scratched the hair on the back of his head with an embarrassed look.
Just by looking at the expressions on Qingto, Okita's and others' faces at this moment, he knew that Qingto and the others must have heard the mockery that the handsome young man just said about the Imperial Guard Hall...
Chiba Jutaro laughed a few times in embarrassment:
"Tachibana-kun...this is the fourth son of my uncle Chiba Shusaku: Chiba Tamon Shiro, who is also the cousin of Sanako and I."
——The fourth son of Chiba Shusaku...?
Aoto raised his eyes and took a closer look at Chiba Tamonshiro's facial features - his appearance did have some similarities to Jutaro, Sanako and the others.
"...Okita-kun, long time no see." At this time, Chiba Tamonshiro suddenly took the initiative to say hello to Okita.
"Yes, I'm very sorry." Okita snorted coldly, with an indifferent look on his face, "I accidentally saw you, and my good mood just now was gone."
After being ridiculed severely by Okita, Chiba Tamonshiro did not show the slightest resentment, but instead smiled freely.
Before Aoto could express doubts about the interaction between Okita and Chiba Tamonshiro, which seemed to have some grudge against each other, Okita took the initiative to move closer to Aoto, saying that it was just her and Aoto
The volume that can be heard clearly helped Chiba Jutaro to supplement the introduction to Chiba Zamon Shiro:
"Tachibana-kun. This Chiba Tamon Shiro is the master of the Genbukan."
Having said this, Okita paused, then continued with a complicated expression and a faint tone:
"He is also one of those people who I told you before look down on our trial defense hall and are not willing to exchange swordsmanship with our trial defense hall..."
Qingdeng's eyes narrowed slightly.
Okita's words made the last bit of fog lingering in his mind suddenly dissipate - he immediately understood why this Chiba Tamon Shiro just brazenly called their trial defense hall "a third-rate swordsman" in public.
Pavilion".
"Brother Duomen!"
Aonto and the others heard Chiba Tamonshiro's sarcasm about the Imperial Guard Hall just now... This made Chiba Jutaro, who was caught between relatives and friends, so embarrassed that he didn't even know how to express himself.
In order to get rid of this extremely embarrassing predicament as soon as possible, Chiba Jutaro cleared his throat vigorously and gave Chiba Tamonshiro a straight face.
"If anything happens, we'll talk about it in private later!"
"Look around you. Is this a place where we can talk?"
"With so many people watching, how is it that you are gossiping here?"
"Leave quickly! If you don't leave, I'll tell my cousins about your actions today!"
Report you to your cousins - Upon hearing these words, Chiba Tamonshiro's expression suddenly changed.
He turned his head and looked around.
More and more people gathered to watch the excitement, surrounding them on three levels inside and three levels outside.
In the distance, several young miko maidens wearing red and white miko uniforms noticed the movement, pulled up the hems of their hakama, and hurried towards them.
"...Okay." Chiba Tamonshiro withdrew his gaze from the surrounding onlookers, "Then I will have a good talk with you in private later."
"Let's go." Chiba Tamonshiro waved to his companions standing on his left and right sides, and then turned around first, preparing to leave.
But, just at the moment Chiba Tamonshiro turned around——
"Please wait!"
A sonorous and powerful voice clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
Chiba Tamonshiro stopped and turned around slowly with a confused look on his face.
Okita, Saito, Sanako, Chiba Jutaro, Chiba Tamonshiro, and the onlookers... all focused their attention on the owner of the voice just now - Aoto.
Qingto, who showed no trace of timidity or shrinkage in his eyes, looked straight at Chiba Tamonshiro who was looking at him.
"Please take back what you just said, 'The Imperial Guard Hall is a third-rate sword hall.'"
"Ah?" Chiba Tamonshiro frowned sharply.
"Tachibana-kun?" Okita opened his mouth blankly at Aoden.
After Aoto suddenly appeared, Chiba Tamonshiro actually didn't pay much attention to this stranger he didn't know, and he didn't even pay attention to the names Chiba Jutaro, Okita and others called Aoto.
It was only now, after Aoto's shocking words, that Chiba Tamonshiro noticed that Okita and the others had always called Aoto "Tachibana-kun".
"Tachibana..." Chiba Tamonshiro chewed on the word. After a moment, he seemed to have recalled something, and his eyes widened slightly.
He stared closely at Qingdeng's face and asked word for word: "...I wonder what your name is?"
"Testing the Weiguan, Natural Rise of the Heart." Qingden said calmly, "Ju Qingden."
The crowd gathered around suddenly became noisy with a "boom".
"Ju Qingden? Why does this name sound so familiar?"
"Nonsense, of course it sounds familiar to you. We just talked about this person two days ago."
"Oh, I remembered, it's the 'Sanchai' Tongxin from Beibansuo who has become very famous recently, right?"
"So tall."
"This is the man who solved Granny Ping's murder case and defeated the large group of 'radical anti-foreigners' who tried to kill foreign businessmen..."
…
The onlookers all looked at Qingdeng as if they were looking at some strange species, appreciating this celebrity who was so close to them with relish.
The moment Aoto introduced himself, Chiba Tamonshiro's eyes twitched: "You are... that Tachibana Aoto, the name I have admired for a long time."
Chiba Tamonshiro had heard about Ayoto's deeds more than half a month ago.
Therefore, after discovering that Okita and others called Aotobu "Tachibana-kun", Chiba Tamonshiro was already mentally prepared that this "Tachibana-kun" was the "Tachibana Aoden" who had recently become famous, so he
The current reaction is quite calm.
In response to Chiba Tamonshiro's compliment of "I have admired his name for a long time," Aoto nodded politely in response, and then——
"Chiba Tamon Shiro-kun, it is true that our trial swordsmanship hall is currently just a little-known swordsmanship hall. Whether it is the number of apprentices or the quality of the students, it is far from excellent."
"But our Imperial Guard Hall should not and cannot be called a 'third-rate sword hall' for this reason!"
Qingden raised his voice several degrees with dignity.
"Only those kind of masters, those who don't pay attention to their teaching and mislead their students in those sword halls, are the real third-rate sword halls."
"Those sword halls that are tireless in teaching and have been working hard to provide correct guidance to the disciples in the hall, no matter how many or few apprentices they have, and whether the quality of their students is good or bad, they are all first-class sword halls worthy of respect."
"Although I have not been in the Trial Guard Hall for a long time, and it has been less than two months, but in just over a month, I have really seen with my eyes: there is no such thing in the Trial Guard Hall.
People who will slack off in teaching.”
"Whether it's the master Kondo Shusuke, the teacher's representative Kondo Isamu, or Okita Souji who often comes to help teach swordsmanship, there is no one who doesn't do their best when teaching swordsmanship."
"So - please take back the scornful name you just called the Trial Guard Hall."
Deep in Qingden's peaceful pupils, there was unshakable faith.
Since just now, something happened... a very strange sight that Qingdeng and others did not notice.
When Qingdeng began to speak, many of the surrounding onlookers closed their mouths involuntarily after hearing Qingdeng's voice, and stared at Qingdeng quietly, silently listening to Qingdeng's impassioned speech.
The crowd of onlookers, who were originally very noisy, slowly became quiet because of this.
Chiba Tamonshiro stared blankly at Aomori who stared at him with calm eyes.
You want me to take back what I just said in front of so many people? What a joke!
Chiba Tamonshiro subconsciously wanted to refuse such a humiliating act.
However……
Qingdeng's eyes at this moment seemed to contain some kind of different kind of appeal.
Chiba Tamonshiro, who was looking directly at him like this, felt uncomfortable all over.
The words to reject Aoto had obviously been prepared, but it was this uncomfortable feeling that arose all over his body due to Aoto's gaze that made it impossible for Chiba Tamonshiro to put it all into his mouth.
Tell me the words...
"...Fourth cousin."
Suddenly, Sanako, who had been silent just now, spoke up.
Since just now, there has been a look of hesitation on Sanako's cheeks.
After struggling for a long time on Sanako's cheeks, these traces of hesitation finally "died" at this moment.
She glanced at Aoto for a few times, and then, like Aoto, she cast a stern look at Chiba Tamonshiro.
"Tachibana-kun, he is right."
"You did go too far just now. The Trial Guard Hall should not be slandered by you like that."
"Please take back your rude remarks just now."
Sanako's support - this was beyond the expectations of many people...including Aomori.
Qingden turned his eyes and looked at Sanako who was speaking to him in surprise.
Sanako noticed that Aoto was looking at her, nodded to Aoto, and then continued to stare at Chiba Tamonshiro.
Now, the eyes of everyone present were focused on Chiba Tamonshiro.
They were all waiting for Chiba Tamonshiro's response.
Under the gaze of everyone, Chiba Tamonshiro gritted his teeth after being silent for a while.
"...Okay, since you said so, Sanako."
Chiba Tamonshiro took a deep breath, then half-closed his eyes and bowed slightly towards Aoto and Okita.
"...I'm sorry...I just said something indiscriminately."
"I retract all the comments I just made about the trial defense hall."
After saying this quickly, Chiba Tamonshiro no longer looked at Aonto and the others, and hurriedly led his four companions to turn around and leave, not to stay here any longer.
Chiba Tamonshiro and others moved very quickly, and in just a moment, their figures disappeared into the crowd. Seeing that there seemed to be no excitement to join in, the onlookers gradually dispersed.
Some people really left, but some people pretended to leave, but in fact they walked a little far away from Qingdeng and others and then stopped. They continued to "watch", which in their eyes was much prettier than Baimei.
Sanako, who was stunned, or continued to secretly look at every street and alley in Edo, Aoto who had recently become famous.
After the onlookers dispersed, several young mikos who had been blocked outside and unable to approach them were finally able to get close to them.
Because Chiba Tamonshiro had already gone far away, these shrine maidens could only reprimand Ayoto and others.
"These guests, it is forbidden to quarrel or fight with others in the shrine! If something like this happens again, we will have to ask you to leave the shrine!"
"Ah, I'm sorry." Chiba Jutaro smiled at the angry young miko, "I'm very sorry for causing you trouble."
"We will pay attention to it later." Qingto's voice cut in, and he took a step across and stood next to Chiba Jutaro.
At this time, Sanako also joined in the procession of sending the witches away: "I'm very sorry for causing trouble to you."
Aoto, who was busy accompanying Chiba Jutaro and Sanako to deal with the shrine maidens, didn't notice at this time - Okita was opening his eyes wide, staring blankly at the Chiba Tamado who had just said a few words.
Shiro retracted his scornful name for Shiweikan and apologized...
